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Best eSIM for France

We compare 19 plans from 6 eSIM providers for France, in pounds, show what your UK network would charge instead, and share the local mobile tips worth knowing.

Prices last checked 25 September 2026

eSIMs from£3.0119 plans · 6 providers

Quick answers

  • The cheapest data plan here is £3.01.
  • Best value for a longer stay: Ubigi 10GB for 30 days, £8.83.
  • Unlimited data from Airalo: £44.52 for 30 days.
  • France is in the EU. O2, giffgaff, SMARTY, iD Mobile and Tesco Mobile include it; EE, Vodafone and Three charge about £2.75 a day.
  • No restrictions: WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work normally over French mobile data and Wi-Fi.
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Prices

France eSIM prices compared

All 19 plans we track, cheapest first within each length.

ProviderDataLastsPrice (approx. in £)
Sim Local 1GB 3 days £3.02US$4.00 · £3.02/GB Go to Sim Local Provider link
Saily 1GB 7 days £3.01US$3.99 · £3.01/GB Go to Saily Provider link
NomadFree / Orange 1GB 7 days £3.02US$4.00 · £3.02/GB Go to Nomad Provider link
NomadFree / Orange 5GB 30 days £6.79US$9.00 · £1.36/GB Go to Nomad Provider link
Saily 5GB 30 days £8.29US$10.99 · £1.66/GB Go to Saily Provider link
Sim Local 5GB 30 days £8.30US$11.00 · £1.66/GB Go to Sim Local Provider link
UbigiBest value 10GB+Bouygues, Free, Orange, SFR 10GB 30 days £8.83US$11.70 · £0.88/GB Go to Ubigi Provider link
NomadFree / Orange 10GB 30 days £10.56US$14.00 · £1.06/GB Go to Nomad Provider link
Show all 19 France tariffs
ProviderDataLastsPrice (approx. in £)
Sim Local 10GB 30 days £11.32US$15.00 · £1.13/GB Go to Sim Local Provider link
Saily 10GB 30 days £12.82US$16.99 · £1.28/GB Go to Saily Provider link
Airalo Unlimited 3 days £8.30US$11.00 Go to Airalo Provider link
HolaflyOrange, SFR, Bouygues, Free Unlimited 3 days £8.98US$11.90 Go to Holafly Provider link
Saily Unlimited 5 days £31.68US$41.99 Go to Saily Provider link
Airalo Unlimited 7 days £17.73US$23.50 Go to Airalo Provider link
NomadFree / Orange Unlimited 7 days £18.86US$25.00 Go to Nomad Provider link
Sim Local Unlimited 7 days £20.19US$26.75 Go to Sim Local Provider link
HolaflyOrange, SFR, Bouygues, Free Unlimited 7 days £20.75US$27.50 Go to Holafly Provider link
Airalo Unlimited 30 days £44.52US$59.00 Go to Airalo Provider link
HolaflyOrange, SFR, Bouygues, Free Unlimited 30 days £55.76US$73.90 Go to Holafly Provider link

Prices checked 25 September 2026. Most travel eSIM companies charge in US dollars, even to UK customers, so your bank converts the price when you pay. We show pounds at that day's rate (US$1 = £0.75458) with the dollar price underneath.

Price per GB in France

Each provider's best-value 30-day plan of 5GB or more, as a price per GB. Lower is better; orange = cheapest.

Ubigi£0.88
Nomad£1.06
Sim Local£1.13
Saily£1.28
Roaming

What UK networks charge in France

A week in France: what it costs

7 days of data on each UK network's roaming (where there's a daily price) against the cheapest 5GB+ eSIM (Nomad). Orange bar = eSIM.

Vodafone£19.25
Three£19.25
EE£19.04
VOXI£18.20
Sky Mobile£14
Cheapest eSIM£6.79
O2Included
giffgaffIncluded
SMARTYIncluded
iD MobileIncluded
LebaraIncluded
Tesco MobileIncluded
Lyca MobileIncluded
Your networkPer dayA weekDetails
EE£2.72 a day£19.04Europe daily charge (sources vary £2.47-£2.72; weekly £16.50) Check with your network
O2Included£0Europe Zone included up to 25GB
Vodafone£2.75 a day£19.25Europe Zone B daily roaming; 8-day pass £16, 15-day £21 Check with your network
Three£2.75 a day£19.25Go Roam in Europe £2.75/day (£2 on plans before 18 Dec 2025), 12GB fair use
giffgaffIncluded£0included up to 5GB (EU zone)
SMARTYIncluded£0included up to 12GB; EU data pass £3/day if more needed
iD MobileIncluded£0included up to 30GB
VOXI£2.60 a day£18.20European roaming pass £2.60/day (8 days £15, 15 days £20), up to 20GB
LebaraIncluded£0Roam Like Home in EU, up to 30GB Check with your network
Tesco MobileIncluded£0Home From Home, UK allowance, no end date
Sky Mobile£2 a day£14Roaming Passport £2/day (£10 for 5 days), 25GB fair use; free for VIP Diamond
Lyca MobileIncluded£0EU roaming from bundle, fair use applies Check with your network

Checked 25 September 2026. Roaming prices depend on your exact plan and when you joined, so check with your network before you travel.

Local know-how

Mobile in France: what to know

Mobile networks

OrangeBest coverage and fastest downloads in Opensignal's November 2025 France report.
Bouygues TelecomWon the most Opensignal awards in November 2025, including consistent quality.
SFRFrance's second-largest operator, close behind Orange on coverage.
Free MobileCheapest of the four, with the highest 5G availability in Opensignal's tests.

Coverage

Coverage is good in towns and cities and the Paris metro has had 4G on all four networks since 2020, but rural and mountain areas can still be patchy, so check Arcep's Mon reseau mobile map for where you're staying.

Wi-Fi

Hotels and cafes usually have Wi-Fi, the City of Paris runs free Paris Wi-Fi hotspots in parks, libraries and town halls, and TGV INOUI trains have free onboard Wi-Fi.

WhatsApp and FaceTime calls

No restrictions: WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work normally over French mobile data and Wi-Fi.

Buying a local SIM

You need photo ID, usually a passport, to buy and activate a prepaid SIM. They are sold at Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free shops, tabacs, supermarkets, electronics shops and airports. Orange Holiday Europe is about EUR 24.99 for 20GB over 14 days, while Lycamobile offers 350GB for 30 days at about EUR 11.99.

Emergency number

112 (also 15 ambulance, 17 police, 18 fire, 114 by SMS for deaf or hard of hearing people)

Tips for UK travellers

  1. On cross-Channel ferries, turn data roaming off: Brittany Ferries warns phones can connect to its Telenor Maritime satellite network at much higher charges. Use the ship's Wi-Fi instead.
  2. Use Arcep's free Mon reseau mobile map or app to see which network is strongest at your address, including on TGV routes and metros.
  3. The whole Paris metro, tunnels included, has had 4G on all four French networks since 2020, so maps and messaging work underground.
  4. TGV INOUI Wi-Fi is free but not built for streaming, so SNCF suggests downloading films and shows before you board.
FAQ

Common questions

Do I need ID to buy a SIM card in France?

Yes. Photo ID is a legal requirement when you buy and activate a French SIM, and a passport is the usual choice for UK visitors.

Which French mobile network has the best coverage?

Orange won Opensignal's Coverage Experience award in November 2025, though Bouygues Telecom won the most awards overall.

Does my phone work in the Paris metro?

Yes. 4G covers the entire Paris metro network, including tunnels, on Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free.

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